Beyond Cat & Dog: 12 Surprising and Unusual Pets

Since I could remember, I have always wanted to have a pig for my pet. I grew up with dogs and cats, rabbits and hamsters around me at various times in my childhood, but forever wished for a pig. I still want one and hope that one day, I can get my cute pig named Otis and add him to my family. It’s not your typical dog or cat, but come on, they are adorable and under-rated!

Turns out, I am not the only one who seeks animals outside the ‘normal’ and some people keep pets that I would never even think you could — let alone actually call them ‘family’. Who am I to judge though, you love who you love, right?

Click through to see 12 surprising & unusual pets far from the usual cat or dog:

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach 1 of 12

Each live on average 2-3 years (but have been known to live up to 5 years) and are good for beginner pets.Photo credit: Ryan Somma on Flickr

Piranhas 2 of 12

Fish lovers may find piranhas to be a great addition to their aquariums. Though there is a chance they may randomly kill their aquarium housemates, Pleco's or other hardy catfish can live in the same tank. Photo credit: The_Gut on Flickr

Tarantulas 3 of 12

A female is usually the better choice simply because females tend to be much longer lived than males.Photo credit: Stewart Black on Flickr

Wallaby 4 of 12

They can live for 15-20 years making a good life-long companion. They can weigh anywhere from 40-100 lbs, but are very playful and affectionate.Photo credit: Skrewtape on Flickr

Skunk 5 of 12

Skunks can get rabies, therefore it's very importance you acquire your skunk through a licensed breeder and not from the wild. They should also be fixed and descented as soon as they are sexually mature.Photo credit: vladeb on Flickr

Hermit Crab 6 of 12

They have personality, love to play but respond quickly to any stress.Photo credit: warrenski on Flickr

Potbellied Pigs 7 of 12

Pigs are intelligent, trainable and playful. They can live anywhere from 12-20 years and may weigh up to 125 lbs. Photo credit: maveric2003 on Flickr

Stick Insects 8 of 12

One of the most popular insect pets, stick insects (part of the Phasmids family) are relatively easy to care for.Photo credit: NH53 on Flickr

Bearded Dragon 9 of 12

They live for about 10 years and grow to a decent size -- 18-24 inches. Generally very docile and friendly.Photo credit: jurvetson on Flickr

Hedgehog 10 of 12

They can live up to 10 years and are very gentle. They love to be cuddled and can be kept in a large aquarium or guinea pig sized cage.Photo credit: yoppy on Flickr

Scorpion 11 of 12

You need to be careful about the species of scorpion you choose because some are just not safe to have around. There are many safe ones and scorpions can take up to 3 years to reach maturity.Photo credit: Furryscaly on Flickr

Pet Rock 12 of 12

If you don't like living things and don't want to worry about doing the right things or the wrong things in order to keep your pet-friend alive, the easiest pet is the rock. Hard to mess that one up.Photo credit: kumquatgirl on Flickr

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